Locking device for drawbridge rail-joints.



PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908. W. R. MERSHON & H. R. LEONARD. LOOKING DEVICE FOR DRAWBRIDGE RAIL JOINTS.

PPLIC TION FILED MAY 1 1907. A A 3 s SHEETSSHEET 1.

wrf

i g i .E WLLT: 5 S? i? mif Z Z o g H No. 876,078. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908. W. R. MERS HON & H. R. LEONARD. LOCKING DEVICE FOR DRAWBRIDGE RAIL JOINTS.

APPLICATION FILED MA 1, 1907.

Y3 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UFL IH rmznanhla PETERS co.. wnsmrvcrou, n! c.

' PATENTED JAN. 7', 1908. W. R. MERSHON & H. R. LEONARD. LOCKING DEVICE FOR DRAWBRIDGE RAIL JOINTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1907.

1% y l 9 'r' F j I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. MERSHON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND HENRY R. LEONARD, OF WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR DRAWBRIDGE RAIL-JOINTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ian. 7, 1908.

Application filed May 31. 1907. Serial No. 376.627.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, W ILLIAM .li. MER- SHON, of 113 Hillside avenue, Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, and HENRY R. LEON- ARD, of 315 Summit avenue, lVayne, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, both citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices for Drawbridge RailJoints, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The present invention relates to the means for holding in place when a drawbridge is closed the rails upon the bridge which form a joint and a continuous track with the rails upon the landing.

In the present invention, that portion oi the rail upon the bridge which extends upon the landing seat and connects with the rail upon the landing, is formed with a hinge or flexible joint at its inner end so that its free end may be raised from the landing seat, and seats similar to the landing seat are placed upon the bridge beneath such hinged rail and all of the seats provided with wedgc jaws, and wedge-bars are fitted movably to the opposite sides of the hinged rail and provided with wedges to engage all ol such jaws by a single movement.

The wedge-bars are held in place so as to move upon opposite sides oi the rail by means of a shifting arm depended from each, such arms being bolted together, and by means of a cross-bar extended beneath the flange of the rail and bolted to both of the wedge-bars. A similar seat is provided, with wedge-jaws at opposite sides of the hinged joint of the hinged rail, and separate wedges are provided to engage such jaws and lock such hinge firmly when the drawbridge is closed.

The operative mechanism of such drawbridges which is employed to turn the bridge when opening the water-way, and for moving any of the bridge locking mechanism, is commonly actuated by a motor driven by steam or electricity, and such bridge operat ing mechanism is in the present invention utilized to move the wedge-bars reversibly so that they may be retracted to open the bridge, and again advanced to lock the track and their joints when the bridge is closed.

The rails are hinged upon the drawbridge, to enable their free ends to be liftedclear of the seat upon the landing, so as to avoid any injurious contact therewith or with the wedge-jaws thereon, and such lifting necessitates the provision of some means for raising them when they are unlocked. Such means is provided herein by a bolster extended beneath the rails, and provided with guides to produce a vertical movement and having checks to hold the rails in place and an anti-friction roll beneath each of such rails.

The lifting oi the rail breaks all its connections with the drawbridge and necessitates the use of a plurality of seats to support the rail when lowered, and a plurality of clamping devices to secure the rail 'Iirmly upon such seats; which are provided in the form of jaws with wedges operated simultaneously as mentioned above.

The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing, in which Figure 1 shows part ol a drawbridge and abutment or landing for a double track, the drawing representing the corner of the bridge and a part oi the adjacent landing, with the hinged draw-rail locked to the bridge and the landing seat. Fig. 2 shows one of the hinged rails and the adjacent landing with the wedges retracted to unlock such rail; F 3 is a longitudinal vertical section at the middle line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an elevation on line 4 l in F 8, with dotted lines showing the gears connecting the rockshal't and cannshait; Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 in Fig. 3, Fig. (i is a cross section of the wedge-bars adjacent to the tie-bar; Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the ties with a cross section of the rail and wedge-bars on line 77 in Fig. '1, and Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse seetion on line 8 8 in Figs. 1 and 3, looking toward the locking and lifting mech anism of the hinged rail.

a designates the bridge landing, l) the girders of the bridge, c the ties upon the girders, and (Z the head-piece ot the draw curved to clear the landing.

e are the ground rails upon the landin andfthe seat for the same. The hinged rai s g are in line with the fixed rails g of the bridgetrack, and their joint {1" is supported upon a seat 9. The end of the rail 9 is held by the fixtures upon this seat in such a manner (as will be hereinafter described) that they serve as a hinge for the rail, so that the forward end of the rail over the landing can be raised nally.

and lowered while the inner end of the rail is held inplace by such fixtures. hen the drawbridge is closed, the rails g are supported upon seats hon the drawbridge and their junction with the ground rails e is supported upon the seat f upon the landing. The seats h and f have sloping wedge-jaws j which are preferably undercut or dovetailed, as shown in Fig. 7, and wedge-bars k are fitted to the channels at opposite sides of the hinged rail 9, and extend between the jaws of the seats h and f, and are provided with wedges Zfitted to such jaws.

The upper sides of the wedge bars, as shown in Fig. 7, lie sufficiently below the head of the rail to clear the flanges of the carwheels, and these bars have depending arms m which are clamped together by bolts m, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, in such manner as to hold the wedge-bars movably in the channels. Near their opposite ends, the wedgebars are secured together by a cross-plate or tie n which is clamped by bolts n to lugs n upon the wedgebars, thus holding the wedgebars spaced apart in such manner as to retain them securely in the channels of the rails while permitting them to move longitudi l/Vhen the draw is closed, as in Fig. 1, the movement of the wedge-bars k serves to force the wedges simultaneously into the seats upon the draw and into the seat f upon the landing, thus locking the rail firmly at numerous points, and locking the groundrail and the hinged rail securely in alinement upon the seat Similar wedge-bars, but carrying only a single wedge, are shown at 0 in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 clamped together by arms 0 and bolts 19 so as to be movable in the channels of the rail, and such wedge-bars carry wedges {1 fitted to jaws 1 upon the seat g The wedge-bars slide past the joint 9 of the fixed and hinged rails g and g, and operate when the draw is closed to hold such joint firmly in alinement and to lock it rigidly to the seat g When the arm 0 is retracted and the wedges drawn back, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the ends of the wedge-bars still overlap the rear end of the hinged rail, as shown in Fig. 2, and hold the'same down upon the seat y but permitting the forward end of the rail over the seat f to be lifted. When the draw is to be opened, the wedgebars 0 are first retracted, to loosen the joint the hinged rail; and the wedge-bars upon of such hinged rail are then retracted to unlock the rail and permit its elevation.

The means for retracting the wedge-bars will be described hereinafter.

The means for lifting the rail consists, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, of a bolster 1 extended crosswise beneath the hinged rails about the middle of their length, and carry ing vertical cheeks r fitted to the outer sides of the wedge-bars.

Rolls 8 are journaled between the cheeks directly beneath the rails, which are thus held from lateral movement by the cheeks, while the rolls prevent friction during the lifting movement. The bolsters have vertical bars t extended downward from their opposite ends and fitted to guides it upon the girders of the bridge, and connecting rods it having expansion joints u are extended downward from the lower side of the bolster and actuated to lift the bolster by cranks U upon a lifter-shaft c.

A rockshaft w is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8, journaled in the girders of the bridge and connected by a worm and worm-wheel w with a motor-shaft Such shaft is in practice actuated by a suitable motor, and the rotations of the motor in reverse directions, are controlled by an operator by the use of suitable signals, as is common upon drawbridges, so. as to turn the drawbridge in re verse directions when opening and closing the same. Such reverse movement of the motor-shaft operates to oscillate the shaft w, and connections are shown herein with such shaft for actuating the wedge-bars and lifting the hinged rail when required. Such connections secure the retraction of the wedges from their respective jaws, and the lifting of the hinged rail from the landing seat f before the draw is opened, and hold the wedges and hinged rail in such position until the draw is again closed. To shift the wedges, a cam-shaft y is shown in Figs. 4 and 8, connected by gears y with the rock-shaft to, such gears being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, as the section plane 44 in Fig. 8 does not include such gears. A crank-shaft is shown above such cam-shaft and has a crank 2 connected by link 3 with the arm on for the wedge-bar 76, and it has also a crank 4 connected by link 5 with the arm 0 upon the wedge-bars 0.

The cranks 2 and 4 are shown in Fig. 3 turned to advance the wedge-bars and lock the rails e, g and g upon their seats, as shown in Fig. 1, the crank 2 in such case being upon its dead center, and thus producing but little movement upon the wedgebars 71', when the crank-shaft is first reversed or turned to retract the wedges. The crank 4 in the same case is at right angles to its link so as to operate rapidly upon the wedge-bars 0 when the crank-shaft is reversed, and the hinge-joint of the rail 9 is thus first unlocked and the wedges upon the movable portion of the rail then unlocked to permit the lifting of the rail.

\Vith the proportions shown in the drawing, the crank-shaft is oscillated through about 80 degrees of arc, and this oscillation is effected by two roll-arms 6 and 7 carrying rolls 8 and 9 to bear upon the surfaces of cams 6 and 7 on the cam-shaft y. The motion of the parts when advancing the wedges is shown by the arrows 10 in Fig. 3,

while the motion of the parts for retracting the wedges is shown by the arrows 1.1. in Fig. 4. The roll-arms t) and 7 are mounted at different points upon the cranlvshal't, as as indicated in Fig. 4, where the cams and arms are shown in a reverse position from that in Fig. 3, and the arms are so secured upon the crank-shaft that'the motion of the cams 6 and. 7, in opposite directions operates alternately upon the roll-arms to oscillate the crank-shaft as required. The rollarms are shown in full lines in Fig. -;l in the position required to retract the wedges, while they are also shown in dotted lines in the position required to advance the wedges. The crank-shaft 1, the cam-shalt 3 and the rock-shaft to all oscillate simultaneously as well as the litter-shaft 1/, which .is connected with the rock-shaft by cranks and a link 1-2, and the connections a are termed with slots in the lower end in which the pins of the cranks e are titted to move, so that only the final movement of the litter-shaft operates upon the bolster 1', after the wedges are all retracted. The operating mechanism tor the bridge, represented by the motor shaft .r thus operates three parts sucwssivelv, namely, the wedges at the hinge joint ol' the rail 9, the wedges which operate upon the seats h and], and the holster which hits the hinged rails bel ore turning the draw. The lifting of the rail clear of the jaw s as shown in Fig 4,.the two rails 9 being prevented lrom lateral movement during such lilting bv the cheeks r upon the bolster r.

A coupling is shown upon the shal't in Fig. 8 at the righthand sideol' the gear-wheels y, and. the joint of the shalt within such coupling represents, in the construction shown, the longitudinal center line of a drawbridge; ol whichonlvone track is shown, supported upon the girders b/) at the right handsideol suchcoupling. Theshaltisshown extended across the face ol. the worm-wheel w, as would be the case it used to limit the rails upon a track at the left hand side ol the draw'bridge, the oscillation of the shaft bv the roll-arms 6 and 7 operating to raise simultaneously the rails ot the tracks at both sides of the drawbridge.

The arrangement 01' the various parts may be modified to suit ditl'erent drawbridges, without departing from the invention claimed herein.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what is claimed herein is:

1. A rail locking device comprising a rail seat with sloping jaws upon the same, a rail fitted to the seat between the jaw s, and a pair of wedges titted movablv to the jaws and rail and operated simultaneously to clamp the rail upon the seat between the jaws.

2. Arail locking device comprising a series of seats beneath the rail, such seats having wedge-jaws at opposite sides of the rail, a

pair of wedge-bars titted movably to the opposite sides of the rail and having wedges titted to the jaws and operated simultaneously to clamp the rail upon all the seats between the jaws.

3. A rail joint locking device having a seat w ith the ends of two rails seated thereon and dovetail jaws at opposite sides ol' the rail, a pair ol' wedge-lmrs titted movably to the opposite sides ol" the rails and having dovetail wedges fitted to the jaws, the wedgebars overlapping the joint ol the rails when the wedges are in contact with the jaws, and means l'or simultaneously moving the wedgebars upon the rail.

--l. A rail joint locking device l'or drawbridges, having a rail-seat upon the landing and rail-seats upon thedrawln'idge, such seats provided with wedge-jaws, rails upon the landing and upon the drawbridge with a separable joint upon the landing seat, a series of v, edges movable upon the said rail and titted to the said seats and C(Jillltttttl to operate together, and means l'or shitting the series of -wedges to loclt'the rail simultaneously upon the bridge and the landing.

5. A rail joint locking device for drawbridges, having a rail-seat upon the landing and rail-seats upon the drawbridge, such seats provided with wedge jaws, rails upon the landing and upon the drawbridge with aseparable joint upon the landing seat, a series of wedges movable upon the said rail and fitted to the.sides ot the rails and to the said jaws, means for shitting the series of wedges to lock the rail upon the bridge and landing, and means for retmcting the wedges and moving the same with the bridge-rail, clear l'rom the seat upon the landing, be'l'o'i e moving the bridge.

(3. A rail joint loclting device for drawbridges having a rail-seat upon the landing and rail-seats ii pon the dtawbridge,sach seats pt'tlYitlttl with dovetail wedge jaws, rails upon the landing and upon the drawbridge with a se arable joint upon the landing seat, a series o'l' dovetail wedges tilted to the sides ol the rails and to the said jaws, means for shitting the series o'lwedges to loci: the rail simultaneously upon the bridge and landing, and 11 ans connected with the drawbridge operating mechanism tor retracting the series of wedges and lilting the wedges and the bridge rail clear l'rom the landing seat bel 'ore moving the bridge.

7. A rail joint locking device comprising a seat tor the rail with wedge aws at opposite sides o'l' the seat, wedge-bars titted inovably to the channels at opposite sides of the rail and provided with wedges titted to the said jaws, and a tie-bar extended across beneath the rail to hold the said wedgebars movably upon the rail.

8. A rail joint locking device tor drawbridges, having a rail-seat upon the landing and rail-seats upon the drawbridge, such seats having wedge-jaws thereon, a rail hinged upon thebridge and extended upon the landing seat and arranged to lift therefrom, a series of wedges movable upon the said rail and fitted to the jaws upon the seats, a cam-shaft beneath the rails with connections for lnoving the series of Wedges reversibly to lock and unlock the rail, and independ ent connections for lifting the free end of the hinged rail when unlocked to clear the seat upon the landing, and means connected with the drawbridge operating mechanism for oscillating such cam-shaft.

9. A. rail joint locking device for draw bridges, having a rail-seat upon the landing and rail-seats upon the drawbridge, such seats having wedge jaws thereon, a rail hinged upon the bridge and extended. upon the landing seat and arranged to lift therefrom, a series of wedges movable upon the said rail and fitted to the jaws upon the seats, a separate seat with wedge jaws adjacent to the hinged joint of the hinged rail and a wedge fitted movably to such jaws for lock-- ing the joint of the hinged rail, a'rock-shaft oscillated by the bridge-operating mechanism, a crank-shaft actuated by the rockshaft, and connections from such crankshaft for first loosening the wedge at the hinged joint and then shifting the remaining series of wedges simultaneously to unlock the hinged rail.

10. A rail joint locking device for drawbridges, having a rail-seat upon the landing and rail-seats upon the drawbridge, such seats having wedge-jaws thereon, a rail hinged upon the bridge and extended upon the landing seat and arranged to lift therefrom, a series of wedges movable upon the said rail and fitted to the jaws upon the seats, a rock-shaft upon the bridge with connections for lifting the hinged rail when un locked, and a crank-shaft operated by the rock-shaft, with connections for shifting the series of wedges simultaneously to lock and unlock the hinged rail.

11. A rail joint locking device for drawbridges, having a rail-seat upon the landing and rail-seats upon the drawbridge, such seats provided with wedge-jaws, rails upon the landing and upon the drawbridge .with a separable joint upon the landing seat, a series of wedges movable upon the said rails and fitted to the said seats, an adjustable main end wedge movable with the bridge beneath the end of the same for seating the bridge upon its abutment, a rock-shaft upon the bridge with connections to such main end wedge and a motor shaft for actuating such rock-shaft and other bridge operating mechanism, a crank-shaft actuated by the rockshaft, and connections from such. crank-shaft for shifting the series of wedges to lock and unlock the hinged rail.

12. A joint locking device for a pair of track-rails upon a drawbridge, having for each track-rail a railseat upon the landing and seats upon the bridge with wedge-jaws upon said seats, the rails upon the bridge being hinged and extended upon the landing seat and arranged to lift therefrom, a series of wedges movable upon each of the hinged rails and fitted to the said jaws, a bolster extended transversely beneath the hinged rails and carrying cheeks to guide the rails, means for retracting the wedges from the jaws, and means for lifting the bolster to rest the free ends of the rails from the landing seat before turning the bridge.

13. A joint locking device for a pair of track-rails upon a-drawbridge, having for each track-rail a rail-seat upon the landing and seats upon the bridge with wedge-jaws upon said seats, the rails upon the bridge being hinged and extended upon the landing seat and arranged to lift therefrom, a series of wedges movable upon each of the hinged rails and fitted to the said jaws, a bolster ex tended transversely beneath the hinged rails and carrying cheeks to guide the rails with anti-friction rolls between the checks to support the rails, vertical guide-rods t and guides for guiding the movement of the bolster, means for retracting the wedges from the jaws, and means for lifting the bolster to raise the free ends of the rails from the landing seat before turning the bridge.

In testimony whereof we havehereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

l/VILLIAM R. MERSHON. HENRY R. LEONARD.

Witnesses THOMAS S. CRANE, CYRUs C. CUNIER. 

